Ostia (Rome)
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| Ostia | |
|---|---|
| — Frazione — | |
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 Ostia | |
| Coordinates: 41°43′59.68″N 12°16′44.18″E / 41.7332444°N 12.2789389°E / 41.7332444; 12.2789389Coordinates: 41°43′59.68″N 12°16′44.18″E / 41.7332444°N 12.2789389°E / 41.7332444; 12.2789389 | |
| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Lazio |
| Province | Rome (RM) |
| Comune | Rome |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 85,301 |
| Demonym | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 00121 - 00122 |
| Dialing code | 06 |
Ostia is a large neighbourhood in the XIII Municipio of the comune of Rome, Italy. Ostia (also called Ostia Lido or Lido di Roma or Lido di Ostia) is also the only municipio or district of Rome on the Tyrrhenian Sea and many Romans spend the summer holidays there. Sometimes it is confused with Ostia Antica, an archaeological area, that is nearby. With about 85,000 inhabitants, Ostia is the most populated frazione of Italy after Mestre, sometimes considered simply a part, and not a hamlet, of Venice.
Geography
The town is located on Tyrrhenian coast, close to Acilia and separated to Fiumicino by the mouth of the Tiber River (Tevere).
[edit] History
The neighbourhood was founded in 1884, after the reclaiming of the nearby marshland (the pond of Ostia), which was infested by malaria. The first inhabitants were peasants coming from Ravenna, in Romagna. Thanks to the opening of the urban Roma-Ostia railway in 1924, the new village became soon the favourite sea resort of the Romans, while many Art Nouveau houses were built on the waterfront.
The new village was connected to central Rome through the new Via Ostiense, which was opened in 1907. During the Fascist period, the government massively expanded the neighbourhood, which got its ultimate architectural character thanks to many new buildings in Stile Littorio. New infrastructures, like a second road to Rome (the Via del Mare), the promenade, and a water airport were all built during this period.
After World War II, many bathing establishments were built on the sea side, and Ostia experienced a tourist boom. The new Cristoforo Colombo avenue connected Ostia with the EUR district in Rome. However, sea pollution, which became apparent during the 70's, lowered the popularity of Ostia as a sea resort.
The building of the Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino in 1956 made Ostia an attractive district for airport and airline workers.
Italian intellectual, film director and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini was assassinated near the water airport (water aerodrome) on 2nd of November, 1975.
In 1976 Ostia became part of the XIII Municipio of the Comune of Rome.
Nowadays, due to the expansion of the city, only the Park of Castelfusano separates Ostia from the other quarters of Rome.